Garment



July 28, 1942. H. v. Fox

GARMENT Filed May 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Vila/2e! 7T0;

By @Mm Attorney July 28, 1942. v ox GARMENT Filed May 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 may. 6'.

Inventor [2 02125 VIZ-x o By @406.

I Attorney Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT Hazel V. Fox, Washington, D. O.

1941, Serial No. 392,961

Application May 10,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ladies garments, and particularly to a garment combining in a single structure the functions of a brassiere, girdle, and slip. and/or shorts.

An object of the present invention is to provide a garment of this character that will be light, in weight and body conforming.

A further object of this invention is to provide a garment of this character, the several parts of which are preferably cut from an elastic net material with the cutting of eachpiece being in a direction against the bolt length or stretch of the material, to the end that when the several pieces or sections are sewed together in the making of the garment, such pieces will act in opposition to one another to prevent horizontal stretch, while at the same time permitting longitudinal stretch, to the end that the garment will maintain its proper shape at all times and consequently be body conforming and molding, without in any way inconveniencing the wearer or detracting from the comfortableness ofthe garment.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a garment, according to the invention, the same being shown as combining in a single structure the functions of a brassiere, girdle, and slip.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the garment, according to a modified form of the invention, and combining the functions of a brassiere, girdle and shorts.

Figure 3 is a front plan view of the upper section of the garment, according to the invention, the same being shown flattened out.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respective1y,-of Figure 3. i

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in, detail, the undergarment, in the contemplation of this invention, comprises a combination brassiere and girdle section indicated generally by the reference numeral 5, to which is stitched at a point, and in a manner hereinafter more fully set out, either, as suggested in Figure 1, a slip-skirt 0, or as suggested in Figure 2, shorts indicated by the reference numeral 'l.

The referred to section I has a front portion consisting of suitably shaped brassiere portions 0-0 and girdle portions 0-0.

material and extendingvertically or longitudi nally of the garment, or the panels may be made of separate piecesof material stitched together" by the tapes so as to form a composite section.

The panels I2and the upper edges thereof are shaped to extend between the brassiere portions 8-8, as at ll-ll, and, together with the panels II and i3, are stitched to the brassiereiportions .8-8 by stitching l8.

At the seams between the aforementioned panels and brassiere portions 0-8, there is secured by the aforementioned stitching l8 reinforcing tapes I0-l8.

The tapes l0, like the tapes l4, are stitched in position at the inner side of the garment.

The back portion of the section 5 of the garment consists of two identical panels 20-20 stitched along the vertical seam 2|, together, and respectively to the panels 13 and adjacent edges of the brassiere portions 8-8 at the vertical or longitudinal seams 22-22.

At the upper ends thereof the panels 20-20 are shaped to provide the rear portions 23, to the free ends of which are secured at the seams 24 the front portions 25 of shoulder straps, and which front portions I 25 are secured to the brassiere portions 0-8 at the seams 26.

Extending transversely of the panels ll-ll; l2-l2; l3-l3; and 2020 and stitched thereto at the outer side of the garment is a continuous unbroken lengthaof tape 21, and this tape is disposed in the region of the waist line but at a point so that when the garment is worn, the tape will be positioned a suitable distance below the region of the navel as and for a purpose hereinafter more fully stated.-

Upon the inner sides of the panels 2020 there is provided a lining member 28 that has a substantially rectangular lower portion that extends between the seams 22-22 below the tape 21 and terminating in vertical or straight edges secured by stitching forming the seams 22-22; and an upper substantially triangular portion that extends upwardly beyond the tape 21 to terminate at its apex on the seam 2| and substantially coextensive with the upper edges of the aforementioned panels I3-l3..

ing from the rectangular lower portion of said piece to the apex of the substantially triangular upper portion of said piece are slightly curved to provide substantially concave edges secured to the panels 20-20 at opposite sides of the seam 2| through the medium of stitching 29-29.

Upon the inner sides of the panels ll below the tape 21, and at a suitable point spaced downwardly from the tape 21, there are provided lining members 30, formed of the same material as the panels Ii, and secured by stitching 3i-3l and the seams l4, l5.

The lower ends of the panels II and the associated linings 30 are suitably cut away to ac,-, commodate inserts or sections 32-32 of elastic material.

Also, and as illustrated, hose supporter straps 33-33, of suitable length, are respectively secured at the respective opposite ends to the panels ii at the lower edges of the panels and at opposite sides of the elastic inserts or sections 32-32.

Fitted to slides on the hose supporter straps 33-33 are loops 34-34 to which are connected suitable hose supporters 35-35.

Also, and as illustrated, hose supporter straps 36-36 are respectively secured at one end thereof at the lower edge of the garment section I in alignment with the seams 22-22, as at 31-31, and at the opposite ends thereof respectively secured to the lower edges of the panels 20 inwardly from the central vertical seam 22 as at 38-38.

Fitted to slide on the hose supporter straps' 5, and at their upper ends terminate short of the brassiere portions 8-8 of the garment.

- On one of the tapes 42, there are secured, in a row, a plurality of hooks 43, while similarly secured on the other tape 42 are eyes 44 which cooperate with the hooks 43 in securing the garment closed at the front side thereof, and serve for preliminarily securing the garment closed at the front preparatory to closing the entire front with the slide fastener assembly 4|.

An object of the invention is that the garment, embodying the features above described, be of light weight and body conforming.

To that end, the material from which the panels and linings, above specified, referred to and described, are formed of preferably elastic or stretchable net material which is usually characterized by threads extending at an angle to each other and is relatively more stretchable in one direction than it is in the other, the material being arranged, when forming the garment, to utilize the maximum stretch vertically of the garment. In using such material, provision has been made (by reason of the vertically taped in- -elastic seams) to prevent excessive vertical stretch of the panels, and horizontal stretch of the garment is limited to the normal stretch of the width of each individual panel. Consequently, the garment will maintain its shape so as to, at all times, conform to the body to which it has been fitted.

Further the provision of the elastic inserts 32,

and the specific location and arrangement of the hose supporters, as above described and illustrated, with respect to the panels ll-ll, and 29-29, is such that the strain thereon will not only not disturb the fit of the garment or impose uncomfortable strain upon the wearer, but will assist materially in maintaining the garment body-conforming.-

As previously stated the illustrated anddescribed top section I of the garment is adapted to be used in conjunction with either a slip-skirt 3, as shown in Figure l, or with a pair of ladies shorts, 1, and as shown in Fig. 2.

In applying either the slip-skirt 3 or the shorts 1, to the upper see I of the. garment, said slip-skirt 3 and/or shorts 1, as the case may be, is stitched to the aforementioned tap 21, with the result that the Joining of the body section I and the skirt 6, or shorts 1, as the case may be, is at. a point spaced downwardly a suitable distance. from the waist line thus eliminating unsightly bulging at the waist line, especially at the front of the garment, and which generally characterizes combination undergarments of this general type.

It will also be noted, and as clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 2, that the panels I3 curve inwardly at the waist, flare outwardly along the hips, and cup in below the hips, further enhancing the body-conforming qualities of the garment.

when the garment embodies a slip-skirt, such as shown at 3, it will be used, generally speaking, solely as an undergarment, and when the garment embodies, as for example, shorts, 1, as shown in Figure 2, it will combine the features of an undergarment and an outer garment, being preferably used in this form as an outer garment suitable for beach wear, or otherwise in accordance with the proprieties.

While I have herein illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and contemplation of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A garment of the class described comprising a brassiere portion and a girdle portion made throughout of stretchable cloth material and having a front opening provided with fastening means, said girdle portion extending downwardly from the brassiere portion andterminating below the hip line and including a front section at each side of the opening, inelastic vertical tapes separating each front section into a plurality of vertical panels of substantially equal width, and including an intermediate panel and a side panel at each side of the intermediate panel, the material of said side panels being arranged so that its maximum stretch is in a vertical direction, said tapes being connected at their upper ends to the brassiere portion, and said intermediate panels being respectively disposed directly below their corresponding bust portions and with the tapes at the sides of said intermediate panels extending in a vertical plane at each side of the center of the bust, a pair of back sections having shoulder straps connected to the upper edge of the brassiere portion, said back sections being connected along their vertical edges to adjacent edges of the front sections, garter straps attached to the lower edges of the back sections, and a garter strap for each of the front girdle sections, said last-named straps having ends attached to the lower portion of the tapes at the opposite sides of the respective intermediate panels.

2. 'A garment of the class described comprising a brassiere portion and a girdle portion made throughout of stretchable cloth material and having a front opening provided with fastening means, said girdle portion extending downwardly from the brassiere portion and terminating below the hip line and including a front section at each side of the opening, inelastic vertical I tapes separating each front section into a plurality of vertical panels of substantially equal width, and including an intermediate panel and a side panel at each side of the intermediate panel, the material of said side panels being arranged so that its maximum stretch is in a vertical direction, said tapes being connected at their upper ends to the brassiere portion, and said intermediate panels being respectively disposed directly below their corresponding bust portions and with the tapes at the sides of said intermediate panels extending in a vertical plane at each side of the center of the bust, a pair of back sections, shoulder straps formed of the material of the back sections connected to the upper edge 

